BREAKING: Tyler Barefield granted $850,000 bondThere was an audible reaction in the courtroom following Circuit Judge David Laser's ruling that Tyler J. Barefield, 35, would be awarded an $850,000 bond on Monday inside the Pope County Courthouse. Some began to cry joyfully, while others wept in disbelief. Another slammed his hands on a railing in frustration and stormed out of the courtroom. Barefield, who was previously denied bond twice, was arrested on Sept. 22, 2016, in connection with...

Man arrested on murder charges after shooting in DoverDOVER -- A man was arrested Friday after after the shooting death of another man near Oak Meadows Road. According to a release from the Pope County Sheriff's Office (PCSO), Sheriff Shane Jones identified the victim of Friday's shooting as Ronald Dean Esserman Jr., 42, of Dover. Nathaniel Z. Symonds, 19, of Dover, was arrested and faces a first-degree murder charge in the death of Esserman. Symonds is currently being held at the Pope County Det...

Alleged drug deal leads to exchange of gunfireJackson C. Hickey, 18, Brooklyn D. Pierce, 20, Soville X. Haynie, 20, and Deion Wilson, 19, were arrested after an alleged drug deal and home invasion led to gunfire on Monday. Deion Wilson was struck during an altercation and his arrival at Saint Mary's Regional Medical Center drew police attention. According to testimony given during felony bond hearings on Friday, officers arrived at Saint Mary's Regional Medical Center in reference to a gu...

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BY TRAVIS SIMPSON
simpson@couriernews.comThe Courier Your Messenger For The River Valley

Police: Man body slammed woman for waking him upAdam D. Taylor, 20, was arrested on Wednesday after allegedly hitting and body slamming a woman for trying to wake him up in the morning. Police responded to the 900 block of East 5th Street in reference to a physical disturbance. The caller told dispatch he heard a female yelling for help before seeing her being dragged into a house by a white male. When an officer arrived, he found the victim sitting outside the residence crying. The officer...

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BY TRAVIS SIMPSON
simpson@couriernews.comThe Courier Your Messenger For The River Valley

Sex offender jailed over registrationMichael A. Dawson, 37, was arrested on Wednesday for failing to register as a Level 3 sex offender. Dawson, whose bond was set at $10,000 by District Judge Don Bourne, originally pleaded guilty to sexual indecency with a child on Oct. 18, 2004, in Yell County Circuit Court for an incident which occurred on Sept. 10, 2002, according to docket reports. According to testimony given during felony bond hearings on Friday inside the Pope County Dete...

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BY TRAVIS SIMPSON
simpson@couriernews.comThe Courier Your Messenger For The River Valley

Area crime reportCompiled by Sean Ingram Russellville Police Department (RPD) officers arrested a man who was cited for DWI, possession of a controlled substance, possession of drug paraphernalia, improper lane usage and improper turn (two times). According to a report, Lt. Spears observed a GMC Sierra strike the outermost curb several times and noticed the vehicle did not maintain control in its own lane. The truck finally was stopped at 1212 N. Boston Place ...

Area man gets 55 years in prisonDANVILLE -- One man arrested and charged with the first-degree murder of a Havana man was sentenced to 55 years in the Arkansas Department of Correction last week. The other two men, one from Russellville and the other from Havana, had their trial continued until May in Yell County Circuit Court. The 15th Judicial District Prosecuting Attorney's office confirmed that Michael Gargis, 28, pleaded guilty to the first-degree murder of Randy Jackso...

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BY SEAN INGRAMsean@couriernews.comThe Courier Your Messenger For The River Valley

Man arrested after striking local officerRickey D. Millikin, 59, was arrested on Sunday after he allegedly struck a woman in the face multiple times, choked her, threatened to kill her and attacked the Atkins police officers who tried to arrest him. Millikin, whose bond was set at $25,000 by District Judge Don Bourne, sat with his shoulders slumped forward during felony bond hearings on Monday inside the Pope County Detention Center. According to a police report, Millikin was arreste...

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BY TRAVIS SIMPSON
simpson@couriernews.comThe Courier Your Messenger For The River Valley

Full Senate to vote on guns in parked carsLITTLE ROCK -- A proposal requiring private employers to allow their workers to keep handguns locked in their cars is heading to the Arkansas Senate for a vote. The Senate Judiciary Committee on Monday endorsed the bill that would prohibit employers from preventing employees from keeping their handguns locked in their vehicle on the employer's parking lot. The measure would apply to employees with a concealed handgun license who keep the gun l...

Prosecutor files charges against judgeLITTLE ROCK -- A special prosecutor assigned to the case of a Fifth Judicial District judge arrested in January and cited for DWI filed formal charges Friday. Jeff Rosenzweig, defense attorney for Circuit Judge William "Bill" Pearson, said the special prosecutor, Jason Barrett of Little Rock, filed charges Friday in Johnson County Circuit Court. They included three misdemeanors and one violation: Count 1, fleeing, a misdemeanor. Count 2, reckl...

Police: Local man shot at best friendGeorge A. Acosta, 26, insisted the pending aggravated assault charges against him were bogus because his friend, who was also in the courtroom, is who he allegedly shot toward. "The person I shot is right there saying nothing happened," Acosta said during felony bond hearings on Wednesday. "This makes no sense. It never happened." Acosta, whose bond was set at $15,000 by District Judge Don Bourne, was arrested in relation to an incident which ...

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BY TRAVIS SIMPSONsports@couriernews.comThe Courier Your Messenger For The River Valley

Sheriff: Buttermilk deceased name releasedPope County Sheriff Shane Jones released the names Tuesday of the individuals involved in the attempted murder/completed suicide on Buttermilk Road in Northern Pope County on Friday night. Jones said the deceased has been identified as Jeremy Ray Lattin, 39. The shooting victim has been identified as Sandra M. Lattin, 34. The sheriff said Tuesday he did not have an update on her condition in a Little Rock hospital. According to previous report...

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Courier staff reportsThe Courier Your Messenger For The River Valley

Bill would bar video depicting cop's deathLITTLE ROCK -- The Arkansas House has approved a bill that would prohibit the release of video or audio that depicts the death of a police officer in the line of duty. Rep. Jimmy Gazaway proposed the bill, saying that the death of a Trumann police officer in 2011 continues to make the rounds on the internet. House members approved Gazaway's bill on a 94-0 vote. Gazaway told House members that the plan offers only narrow limits on the state's F...

Report: Students enter home, aim gun at womanTwo Arkansas Tech University students were arrested on Thursday after allegedly pointing a gun at a woman during a botched burglary. Samuel B. Welsch, 27, and Jordan E. Seawood, 21, appeared in felony bond hearings on Friday, where their bond was set at $50,000 by District Judge Don Bourne on contemplative charges of aggravated residential burglary. Detective Ricky Hendrix with the Russellville Police Department testified the pair were arreste...

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BY TRAVIS SIMPSON
simpson@couriernews.comThe Courier Your Messenger For The River Valley